In a groundbreaking advancement for emergency medical care, paramedics across New Jersey are now equipped to administer blood transfusions at the scene of traumatic incidents and en route to hospitals offering critically injured patients a significantly improved chance of survival.
This major shift in pre-hospital care follows the implementation of two statewide waivers that authorize hospital systems to collaborate with blood banks and launch mobile blood administration programs. With this initiative, New Jersey joins a select group of regions nationwide adopting field blood transfusions as a standard life-saving measure for trauma patients.
The move comes as the state continues its push toward achieving “Vision Zero,” a strategy aimed at eliminating all traffic fatalities. In 2024 alone, nearly 700 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in New Jersey, while national data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that over 40% of crash victims are still alive when first responders arrive but die later often from blood loss.
Hemorrhage, or exsanguination, remains the leading preventable cause of death in trauma cases. Studies show that nearly half of trauma-related deaths occur within minutes of injury, making the early administration of blood products crucial. Field transfusions can help stabilize patients by replenishing blood volume, supporting oxygen delivery, and improving clotting, all before hospital arrival.
“By allowing paramedics to perform blood transfusions outside of the hospital, we’re bridging the critical gap between injury and treatment,” said Acting Health Commissioner Jeffrey Brown. “This initiative is a proven, life-saving strategy that enhances our emergency medical services system and will save lives across New Jersey.”
In 2024, paramedics in New Jersey responded to over 15,000 incidents involving severe trauma, demonstrating the scale of demand for immediate, advanced intervention. Now, with expanded authority, mobile intensive care units can administer blood products during those most critical early moments.
Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) was the first to implement this practice in the field. Paramedics with Hackensack Meridian Health’s Emergency Medical Services administered the state’s first ground-based prehospital transfusion earlier this year. The results were immediate: instead of deteriorating during transport, the patient’s condition improved significantly, showcasing the potentially life-saving impact of the new policy.
Additional healthcare systems, including Virtua Health and University Hospital, have also received approval to conduct field transfusions. Several programs HUMC, Atlantic Health, and University Hospital have extended the capability to air medical flights as well.
To ensure safe and effective implementation, all participating EMS agencies must follow strict protocols. These include partnerships with certified blood banks, extensive training programs, robust systems for inventory stewardship, and ongoing data collection on patient outcomes.
The changes are aligned with national recommendations from top emergency medicine organizations. Recent guidelines emphasize the importance of hemorrhage control in prehospital settings, with studies showing a 37% reduction in mortality among trauma patients who receive blood transfusions before reaching a hospital.
This latest milestone builds upon New Jersey’s broader record of innovation in emergency medicine. The state was the first in the nation to allow paramedics to administer buprenorphine to opioid overdose patients in the field a policy first introduced in 2019 and expanded in early 2025.
